A26862:861
Aphorisms of justification, with their explication annexed wherein also is opened the nature of…Aphorismes of justification, with their explication annexed wherein also is opened the nature of…
Aphorisms of justification, with their explication annexed wherein also is opened the nature of the covenants, satisfaction, righteousness, faith, works, &c. : published especially for the use of the church of Kidderminster in Worcestershire / by their unworthy teacher Ri. Baxter.Aphorismes of justification, with their explication annexed wherein also is opened the nature of the covenants, satisfaction, righteousnesse, faith, works, &c. : published especially for the use of the church of Kederminster in Worcestershire / by their unworthy teacher Ri. Baxter.
Hague: printed by Abraham Brown, 1655
Modern spelling is a reading aid: the words are the author’s, only the spelling is modernized. Original shows the page as printed, with the transcription marks.
11 Methinks you should be so far from questioning the lawfulness of labouring for Heaven, that you should rather think you have almost nothing else to labour for. Gods glory and your salvation, not disjunct, but conjunct, are all the business you have to look after: What do you live for? Why have you all the mercies of your life? Is it only that you may be thankful for life and mercy? Or that you might also improve them to some further advantage? I hope (for all your question) that you make it the greatest labour of your life to seek for assurance and obtainment of your eternal happiness in God.
11 Methinks you should be so farre from questioning the lawfulnesse of labouring for Heaven, that you should rather think you have almost nothing else to labour for. Gods glory and your salvation, not disjunct, but conjunct, are all the businesse you have to look after: What do you live for? Why have you all the mercies of your life? Is it onely that you may be thankfull for life and mercie? Or that you might also improve them to some further advantage? I hope (for all your question) that you make it the greatest labour of your life to seek for assurance and obtainment of your eternall happinesse in God.
12. And once more let me entreat you to consider, whether there be any hope of that mans salvation, who shall reduce this your doctrine into his practise? I abhor censoriousness, but I desire it may be considered, because it is a matter of such unspeakable importance: For surely, if this Doctrine practised will not stand with salvation, it is time for you and all men to abhor it: And ⟨p. 273⟩indeed, this is it that maketh me say so much against it, because it hath a holy pretence, and is very plausible to the inconsiderate, but yet is no better then damnable if it be practised: I say, if practised, because the opinion as such is not so; for I believe many a godly man doth err as foully as this. But it is possible for a man by reading and argument, to be drawn to entertain some opinions in his brain, (not only consequently, but) directly contrary to the practice of his heart and life, and yet himself to continue that practice: Even as a wicked man may entertain those truths into his brain in speculation, which directly to contradict his continued practice. Now it being the practice here that is of absolute necessity to salvation, and not the opinion, I doubt not but such that err only in this opinion, not reducing it into practice, may be saved.